Sashiko Kitchen Cloth - Lavender

This embroidered cotton cloth was handmade by expert craftspeople in Ōtsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, the hometown of sashiko, a Japanese needlework technique used to embroider fabrics with decorative motifs. The technique was established in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868 CE) for repairing and reinforcing worn-out fabrics, as well as stitching together layers of cloth for insulation in the cold winter months. The pattern of this cloth is made using a repeating motif called hana-jūji, which arranges the four petals of a flower (hana) in the shape of the Chinese character for the number ten (jū). The hana-jūji pattern was traditionally used by embroiderers in the Tōhoku area of Japan when working on their very first piece of needlework.

Tōhoku

Tōhoku consists of six prefectures located in the north-east of Honshu island. This region is known for its hot spring (onsen) resorts, colourful festivals, remote sacred mountains and harsh winters. In 2011, the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the region hard; however, the massive efforts in reconstruction are proof of the people’s resilience. Urushi (lacquer) ware, ironware and the crafting of kokeshi dolls make up but a few of the local industries in this lesser-visited region of Japan.